17-Year-Old Paul Shafer Jr., Hopes Return Trip To Columbus Results In Reclaiming Rookie Points Lead
Freshman battle continues in ARCA/CRA Super Series for Hoosier State teenager (Special from Shafer Motorsports)
July 29, 2014
Portage, Indiana (July 29, 2014) – As the 2014 racing season continues for 17-year-old
Paul Shafer Jr., the 2013 Iliana Motor Speedway Super Late Model Track Champion has
learned a lot about new race tracks and racing with different teams. As the season hits
the dog days of August, the Portage, Indiana driver is locked in a tight battle for the 2014
Rookie of the Year title in the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS. The freshman
title is going to come down to Shafer Jr., current rookie leader, Wes Griffith Jr., and
Brandon Watson.
The next race on the ARCA/CRA schedule set for Saturday, August 2nd featuring a return
trip to the 1/3 (0.333) mile semi-banked, circular shaped paved oval of Columbus Motor
Speedway in Columbus, Ohio; the JEGS Bud St. Amant Memorial 174 Presented by
CoughlinCars.com. This event is the makeup date from the June 28th rainout at the
Buckeye State capital speed plant. A rare return appearance for the Shafer Motorsports
Team to a track they've spent time on.
"I'm really excited to go back to Columbus. The last time we were there, we were fast in
practice. So hopefully we can pick up right where we left off." Shafer Jr., stated. In his
last race, the Circle City 100 Presented by JEGS.com at Lucas Oil Raceway (IN) on July
25th, he struggled to a 21st place finish after qualifying 15th in a race won by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series star, Kyle Busch.
"We had a really good car at Indianapolis, but yet again the results don't show the type of day we had. (Crew Chief) Chris Purdy set me up with a top five race car, but right before qualifying the master switch went bad." He explained. "Given only one lap in qualifying, we qualified 15th. After starting from the tail of the field, we got up to about where we qualified and then I got up into the wall. I came down pit road and the guys changed a right front lower. When we went back out the car was a rocket, but still no results to show for it."
The weekend wasn't an entire loss for the Hoosier State teenager however as on July 26th at his home track of Illiana Motor Speedway (IN), Shafer Jr., and his Father, Paul Shafer finished first and second in the Legends Feature on the tracks adjoining 1/4 mile. "We had a really good night there. It was fun to race with my Dad and to beat him too." Shafer Jr., smiled.
In the ARCA/CRA Super Series point's chase, Shafer Jr., is second behind Wes Griffith Jr., in the 2014 Rookie of the Year title points. He trails Griffith Jr., by 28 markers while sitting sixth overall in the points, just four points outside of the coveted top five. So far in his freshman season, Shafer Jr., has scored three top 10 finishes with a season high of seventh coming twice. The first was at his home track of Illiana Motor Speedway (IN) during Border Wars II - Calypso Lemonade 150 on Memorial Day Monday, May 26th. The most recent occurred in the Redbud 300 on June 14th at Anderson Speedway (IN).
For the rest of the 2014 racing season in both the ARCA/CRA Super Series and ARCA Midwest Tour, Shafer Jr.'s popular black and purple #7 Shafer Motorsports / Chevrolet which is a Pathfinder Chassis with horsepower under the hood from Hamner Racing Engines will carry sponsorship support and decals all year long from Southlake Body as well as Maxim Powersports and M.P.H. Promotions.
For more information about Paul Shafer Jr., and the entire Shafer Motorsports Team, please call Car Owner, Paul Shafer at: (219) 406-0067. A new website is still under development and will be available soon. You can still go to the Shafer Racing Facebook Page located at: www.facebook.com and search for "Shafer Racing" as well as the Twitter page which can be found at: www.twitter.com/ShaferRacing7
